"So who brought the snacks?"
"You know I can't cook to save myself. I do have some beer in my bag though, think they would mind? I got enough for all of us!"
"Um, I brought some brownies," Alexis offers, pulling out a reusable container lined with wax paper with small black squares of rich chocolaty goodness. "I normally put walnuts in them, but I wasn't sure if anyone had allergies. Oh! And they're not gluten-free. Is anyone gluten-free?" She opens the top, and passes them around to the group, starting with her bae.
With a smile, "Does it count if I brought the person who made the snacks?"
Russel strolls in a few minutes late.
"Sorry folks, had to drop the kids off to the ex".
He drops a bag on the table with a few soft drinks, "Uh sorry, I did not bring enough for everyone. Wait brownies? I love brownies! Uh, you didn't put anything in them did you cause I get tested sometimes".
He pulls out a copy of the Adventurefinder main book and a bag of dice.
"Thanks for the invite Phil, it has been a while since I played. I got the book but only read through it enough to roll up my character. So what is everybody playing?"
James stuck his fingers in his ears after Russells question. "Lah-lah-lah! Let's not talk about the legality of the brownies. Ya'll seem nice and I'm not on duty!" He laughed softly before taking his fingers out of his ears.
"Yeah, cheers for the invite Phil!"
Phoebe sighs deeply at the allegation of questionable brownies and watches James rather dramatic reaction. Hello I am Phoebe Barrett and this is my girlfriend Alexis Trowner. She is playing a Halfling Sorcerer while I am playing a human Oracle. Oh and the brownies are completely wholesome.
Alexis glances at Phil with open exasperation. "Yeah, of course they're clean. I wouldn't spring magic brownies on people without them knowing!"
Phoebe sighs deeply at the allegation of questionable brownies and watches James rather dramatic reaction. Hello I am Phoebe Barrett and this is my girlfriend Alexis Trowner. She is playing a Halfling Sorcerer while I am playing a human Oracle. Oh and the brownies are completely wholesome.
Alexis smiles her partner explains her character. She looks around the table and nervously brushes an errant lock of hair behind her right ear. "So, this is my first game, so can you take it easy on the new girl?"
James grins and nods at the two women. "Alexis, Phoebe. Nice to meet you both. I'm James, I'll be playing a Halfling Gunslinger named Flit!"
With a mouthful of brownie, "I didmt mean, amy offnse".
He swallows his bite, "Just can't be too careful these days and since I only know some of you in passing I had to check. My ex would love to limit my visitation rights and I can't e too careful with that".
"I am playing a Paladin with a, uh, checkered past".
Russel turns to James, "I thought I recognized you! Didn't I work on a profile for one of your cases a few months back? Can't say which case obviously".
James nodded softly and reached across the table to shake Russells hand. "Nice to meet you again Mister Wilcox, James o'Malley. Yes, we worked together in November. How have you been? Sorry to hear things have not improved with your ex!"
He smiled sympathetically at the man.
Johnny walked in and sat down his pack. He pulled off his shades and stuck them in his shirt. "Hello everyone, sorry I am a bit late. Just got back in from drill down in San Diego. Traffic was a bit worse then I figured it would be" he said as he looked around
He chose a seat over at the table and looked around. "Oh, nice brownies...hmm I guess I should probably start bringing like a case of soda or something to these. I'm Johnny Walker, thanks to the DM for inviting me" he said as he leaned back a bit in the chair.
"Oh I forgot to ask Phil but, do you mind if I do some crafting before the game starts? Ammo is so damn expensive with Guns!"
"Fine with me. By the way, unless otherwise noted, most areas in Sprucetalav operate under the 'emerging guns' rules."
"Bah, I totally forgot that people are pretty xenophobic and there is a werewolf issue. Still though, they could at least be politically correct and call him a werecat yeah?"
"Hah, politically correct is the last thing on a frightened old man's mind!"
Russel shrugs, "Its ok James, bad things happen to good people sometimes".
Russel turns to John, "I am Russel glad to meet you. You in the military that why you are on a drill?"
Johnny nods at Russel "Retired marine after twelve years of service. They decided I couldn't drop out of helicopters and planes anymore so I couldn't do my job and retired me out."
"So what are you up to now John? I would ask how that makes you feel but I am trying to refrain, not clocking out of the job drove my wife nuts." Russel gives a half grin.
Johnny leans back a bit "Well, it took me a while but I managed to get what I needed to become a Professional Trainer. Given all my years in the gym working out to stay in shape for combat and keeping all the little Lance Corporals in shape under me...well it seemed an easy transition."
And the Lycan problem is why I debated taking the wolf scared curse. With her yellow eyes so much fun could have been had
Russel laughs at Phoebe's comment, "Looks like the catman would draw attention away from a minor things like yellow eyes anyhow. Trust me, there is a reason why Rego wears a helm!"
It would have been fun. Wolf scarred makes the Oracle have a wolf like face.
James sits back in his chair, twiddling his thumbs softly. "My sister is a Sergeant in the Corp. Thank you for your service John. Sad to say I never had the neck to go in to the Military myself, decided to go in to Law Enforcement instead. Much safer!" He laughed in a soft self-depreciating manner.
"Well that would have been something, a Cat-man and a Wolf faced woman. Haha We would be proper outsiders!"
Ah well lost opportunity. And I also thank you for your service. I wanted to be a lawyer so no military for me. And the don't don't tell policy grates.
Russel shakes his head, "Another lawyer, my sister clerks for a Judge back in New York. She liked that better then the long hours of practice in a firm. You almost done with Law School Phoebe?"
I am getting close, perhaps a year left then I will never sleep again. Though it will be worth it. What do you do, I heard you mention a case?
"I am a practicing Psychiatrist and aspiring Ghost Hunter", Russel shrugs, "Ghost Hunting does not exactly pay the bills so it will probably never be more than a hobby for me. I split y time between the Hospital and private practice. When I first started I did some work with the criminally insane so I have some profiling experience. I constructed a profile for James that is about all I can say about that matter, sorry you understand how it is".
James laughed and sat forward, "Yes, Russel is quite right. My bosses don't have much of a sense of humor about things like this. So Phoebe you must be in school in Berkeley then? My old alma mater. My sister is a Professor of Psychology there, maybe you know her? Katee Jenkins is her name,"
He rooted around in his bag for a moment before pulling out a bottle of soda. He popped the top using a lighter he pulled from his pocket, before flipping the cap in to his hand. He didn't smoke but he had found that a Zippo was an invaluable tool to have.
"Do you hunt John? I assume a Marine like yourself would love a few days in the wild. I haven't been in a few years myself, just moved back to California from New York and didn't really have the time to take many weekends away."
It has been awhile but I remember her. I am not trying for a psychology major even though I enjoy the subject. What do you prefer to hunt? Phoebe nurses a large coffee that arrived with her.
"Yeah I tried taking a class in psychology while I was doing my Undergrad but..." He shrugged. "Between my sister being the TA and all of the expectation that brought, it wasn't for me. It was interesting though. I am just glad we have people like Russell here that we can turn to in times of need."
"I've hunted Ducks and I've hunted deer. I think I prefer deer really. I don't believe in hunting just for the sake of it so I eat what I hunt and I prefer venison to duck!" He grinned, taking a sip of soda. "I have always wanted to hunt Moose personally. I had planned to take a trip up north with my sister this month actually, we had planned it for awhile, but she got her deployment papers awhile back so she doesn't have the time."
"I have never had the pleasure of trying venison but I love duck. Would there be a chance if when you get a deer I could try a little of it? I could offer you some money or bribe Alexis to bake delicious sweets for you." She smiles at Alexis while saying this.
"That was a close call there, better that we avoided combat with the townsfolk. No pitchforks and torches in our future during our stay here I hope!"
James smiled and nodded. "Sure, next time I go hunting I'll bring back some venison. Would be my pleasure, no payment necessary."
"Heres hoping anyway. I got a lot of bullets but I don't really wanna shoot Townsfolk!"
"Thank you James"
"Generally it is a good idea not to fight with the locals."Throughout most of the encounter she is watching Alexis and smiling as her girlfriend seems to genuinely be enjoying herself.
Alexis smiles back to Phoebe, though she can tell it's a bit of a nervous smile.
He chuckles a bit "Bah, sometimes the villagers need a little fear to keep them in line...but I'm glad it didn't turn into a fight. Might've made it difficult to shop later" he said with a grin.
"This is going to be a long month in this town for this group!" Russel chuckles as he cracks open a soda.
"Coulda been worse I guess, we coulda killed some of em!" James grins, spinning a d10 idly on the table.
"This adventure is gonna start out with action right away I guess Phil?" Russel asks as he reads the note about the diary passed to him.
"Whoever wants to read the book next, needs this too. Pretty explosive stuff here, looks like a mystery to solve right off the bat. Since Rego is a Paladin he will be the Scrappy Doo of this team, nor fear". Russel laughs at his Scooby Doo reference.
"Speaking of mysteries, any of you ever watch any ghost hunter shows on TV?"
"This adventure is gonna start out with action right away I guess Phil?" Russel asks as he reads the note about the diary passed to him.
"We'll see..." Phil replies with a sly smile.
"Speaking of mysteries, any of you ever watch any ghost hunter shows on TV?"
"Oh, yes! It's too bad they never find any real proof of it, though. Maybe the ghosts are camera shy?"
"I have heard some weird stuff on my EVP recorder. In a few weeks I am doing a weekend trip in Washington if any of you are interested there are still spots open".
"Sounds like an interesting weekend. If I'm not on the block for drill I might take you up on it." he said.
He took out a bottle of water and drank some before going on "Jing's unlikely to really talk to the others unless something strikes his curiosity or they start talking or taking interest in him."
With a smile while looking at Johnny "How would Jing feel bout catnip?"
"Or a ball of yarn?" James asks, joining in on the gentle ribbing.
Alexis giggles at the jokes before adding, "Or a saucer of cream?"